What makes a frog suddenly go from “ribbet, ribbet” to “fibbet, fibbet?” The answer is just ahead, in the true story of Sally Frog. Read it out loud, by yourself, or with your young one(s). As you read each verse, guess the final rhyming word. Enjoy!
FIBBETY FROG
Out on the pond there live some frogs.
They hop over rocks and sit on logs.
They also swim across the bogs,
And love when it rains cats and…
POODLES!
The Hopper family has a little girl,
They love her more than the entire world.
Keep her toenails pink and her lashes curled.
And warn her to avoid where trash is…
THROWN.
The Hoppers keep Sally safe and sound.
They warn her of dangers all around.
Tell her to stay where she’s easily found,
And when trouble comes, away to…
JUMP!
“Sally,” they say, “you must recognize
Which bugs to eat; which kinds of flies.
How to catch the ones that are just the right size.
But stay away from those glowing…
LIGHTNING BUGS!”
“Please listen, Sally, to your mother and I
You must not ever, no never, eat a firefly.
And I will tell you exactly why..
If you do, you’ll get sick, why you might even…
CROAK!”
But one bright and sunny day,
A firefly flew Sally’s way.
“Don’t eat it,” she could hear her parents say.
But this time Sally did not…
DO AS SHE WAS TOLD.
Soon the firefly was in Sally’s tummy,
It tasted awful, not at all yummy.
Because she felt like such a dummy
Sally decided she would not tell her…
MOTHER.
“I’d better hop back where I belong!”
Said Sally, “It’s time for sing-along!”
But when she joined the ribbeting throng,
Sally was scared – something felt…
NOT RIGHT.
Sally’s tummy was all a rumble
The firefly inside began to tumble.
She was certain all could hear the grumble,
And instead of croaking, she could only…
MUTTER.
“Sally, you look extra green to Ma and I!”
Said Pa, as he came ribbeting by.
“Did you go and eat a firefly?”
“Oh no,” said Sally. “No, not…
ME.”
“FIBBET! FIBBET!” Sally then said.
“FIBBET! FIBBET!” Her face turned red.
“It’s RIBBET! RIBBET!” The frogs all said,
“So why is Sally saying Fibbet…
ANYWAY?”
“Ma, Pa, I told a lie.”
Said Sally with a tear in her eye
”I did go eat a firefly.
Will I fibbet forever, or will I
CROAK?”
And then the fibbeting was done.
Sally belched and the firefly was gone.
A cheer went out across the pond,
And Sally promised to tell the truth from now…
UNTIL FOREVER.
The lesson of this tale should be no surprise,
It’s not about ponds, or frogs, or fireflies.
Kids – look your parents straight in the eyes,
And promise them you will never tell them…
FIBS!
RIBBET RIBBET
RIBBET RIBBET
RIBBET RIBBET,
RIBBET…
THE END
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